Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| dejar de | /dexaɾ de/ (from spelling rules) |
| parar de | /paɾaɾ de/ (from spelling rules) |
These forms are used when you want to express the cessation of an activity. Related to the concept of stopping, you can also use the nouns parada or paradero to refer to a place to get on or off mass transport or punto and punto final when referring to a punctuation symbol.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase dejar de uses the verb dejar, which literally means 'to leave' or 'to let'. You can think of the construction dejar de as 'leaving off' an action.
Which one should you use?
There is a subtle distinction between the two main forms. dejar de often implies a permanent cessation or quitting a habit, whereas parar de often implies a temporary interruption of an ongoing action. Additionally, use the verb parar without the preposition de when you are referring to a person or a vehicle coming to a standstill, such as saying a car stopped.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/dexaɾ de/
What mistakes should you avoid?
When expressing that you are stopping an action, do not say dejar [infinitive]. You must include the word de before the infinitive, such as dejar de [infinitive].
Did you know?
- The change of the first letter in dejar may have happened because speakers frequently used the preposition de right before the verb.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, parar can be used colloquially to mean 'to hang out' or 'to spend time' in a specific place.
- The word paradero refers to a stopping place, but it is also used in a forensic or detective context to mean a person's 'whereabouts'.
Examples in context
- Debes dejar de jugar.You need to stop playing.This sentence shows how to use dejar de to express the need to stop an activity.Tatoeba #1205369 by cueyayotl, translation #1205344 by Eldad
- No pude parar de reír.I couldn't stop laughing.This sentence demonstrates the use of parar de to describe an inability to stop an action.Tatoeba #1562175 by marcelostockle, translation #461180 by jeanne
- ¿Vas a parar de hablar?Will you stop talking?This sentence shows how to use parar de to ask if someone will stop an activity.Tatoeba #972488 by hayastan, translation #326571 by CK
- Pare, por favor.Stop, please.
- Todos, paren de inmediato.Everyone, stop immediately.
- Deténgase aquí hasta que se lo indiquen.Stop here until instructed.
- Señora, deténgase por favor.Ma'am, please stop.
- Cese inmediatamente.Cease immediately.
- Les notificamos el cese de todas las actividades.We hereby inform you about the cessation of all activities.
- ¡Para, no puedo más!Stop, I can't go on anymore!
- Para, que quiero bajarme.Stop, I want to get off.
- Deja de hacer ruido, por favor.Stop making noise, please.
- 152 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are discussing his new healthy habits.
- Elena¿Vas a dejar de comer dulces?Are you going to stop eating sweets?
- AlejandroSí, Elena, voy a dejar de hacerlo.Yes, Elena, I am going to stop doing it.
- ElenaEso es muy bueno para ti, Alejandro.That is very good for you, Alejandro.
- AlejandroGracias, intentaré dejar de comer tanta azúcar.Thanks, I will try to stop eating so much sugar.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stop” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, dejar, parar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
